Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Central Washington University

Central Washington's film program starts graduates at just $23,126—below both the national median and notably lagging behind other Washington schools. Among the nine film programs in the state, this ranks in the bottom quarter (25th percentile), with graduates earning roughly $5,000 less than the state median and significantly trailing Seattle-based alternatives. The $23,000 debt load, while slightly below national averages, translates to nearly a full year's starting salary.

The saving grace here is trajectory: earnings jump 67% to reach $38,708 by year four, eventually surpassing most Washington competitors. This suggests the program may provide skills that take time to monetize in creative markets, though that first year of sub-living-wage earnings could be financially brutal for graduates without family support. The debt becomes more manageable as earnings grow, but parents should recognize their child will likely need financial help during those initial lean years.

For a creative field program at a highly accessible public university (90% admission rate), these outcomes aren't shocking—but Washington families have meaningfully better options. If your child is set on film school in-state, programs at UW-Seattle or Seattle University both deliver higher starting salaries with similar debt. This program works best for students who can weather very low initial earnings and have reason to believe they'll be among those who see strong income growth.